Thank you so much for all the great reviews. I hope you enjoy this chapter too.
General Disaster.
By LetitiaRichards.
Previously:-
Jack sat in the dark, having turned his light off to conserve the battery, Hammond seemed to have either passed out again or hadn't got anything to say to add to the situation. He could only sit there and wait for the cavalry to arrive and hope they made it before the General's condition worsened... or his for that matter; his chest was hurting and breathing was getting harder.
Chapter 7
Sam was slumped dejectedly into the corner of the cell, her aching head in her hands. Daniel sat in the opposite corner, feeling just as miserable.
They were more than a little disconcerted to wake up and find themselves prisoners of Osiris, but their main concern was what had happened to Teal'c, and whether Jack and General Hammond were still alive under all that debris?
They had lost track of how long they had been there. One thing for certain though, was that they were miles away from that planet by now and that no-one back on Earth nor Jack, General Hammond or Teal'c knew where they were by now; so rescue seemed an impossible dream. If they were going to escape, then it would have to be up to them to find a way out, and ultimately get home again.
They had no way to discern the time as their watches and all of their gear had been taken away while they were unconscious; all they had on was the standard T-shirts and BDU pants whose pockets had been emptied long ago, and their boots.
The tell-tale clomp of Jaffa boots echoed along the corridor and grew nearer. Sam stood up to face whoever was coming, but Daniel stayed seated in his corner.
"About time too," he grumbled when the door to their cell opened.
Several Jaffa were there, pointing their staff weapons at them, and Sam wondered what they were meant to do when a smaller human servant appeared with a tray of food and a jug of water. He stepped into the cell just in front of the door and laid it down on the floor before retreating. The door slid shut with a hiss. No words were spoken or exchanged during the brief encounter.
Once the door had closed behind the guards, Sam dropped down onto her haunches to take a look at the food. She lifted the lid and wrinkled her nose at the offerings.
"That bad huh?" Daniel snorted when he saw Sam recoil slightly from the smell.
"It's better than nothing Daniel," she retorted, though she wasn't so keen on trying it. She divided the soup between the two bowls and handed him one, along with a chunk of what she took to be a sort of bread. She poured out a glass of the water and sipped it. "At least this is water, and not some drugged up juice or whatever," she sighed, taking a longer gulp, "You should be thankful that at least we aren't going to starve to death."
Daniel took a mouthful of the soup and almost retched.
"You're kidding! Sam, have you tasted this stuff?" Daniel cried, feeling as if starving would be the better option in his opinion.
Sam looked up at Daniel's pained face and gulped.
"We have to keep our strength up Daniel," she said, fortifying herself for the coming ordeal of actually tasting it.
She took a small sip and choked over it, pressing her lips tightly together to stop herself from hurling.
"Oh God! That is disgusting!" she groaned when her stomach had settled enough for her to talk again.
"Exactly," Daniel agreed. "I think I'll just stick with the water and the bread from now on."
"Me too!"
Sam knew that they should eat the soup, but she couldn't bring herself to swallow it. She placed the bowl back onto the floor and took the bread and the water back to her corner.
She and Daniel nibbled on the hard bread between sips of water, trying to make it last. Who knew when the next meal might appear? They both hoped it would be better than the last concoction.
Some 30 minutes later they heard marching feet again. They listened to them come to a stop outside the door, then the tell-tale hiss of the door foretold of visitors. The door slid open and the Jaffa seemed to stop in their tracks.
"You have not eaten your meal!" he accused.
"Not likely!" Sam grunted.
The head Jaffa paused and turned to whisper something in the ear of the Jaffa behind him. The younger Jaffa scooted away in a hurry.
"You will come with us!"
"Why?" The question came out of Daniel's mouth even before his brain caught up.
The Jaffa glared at him and lowered his weapon, aiming it at Sam.
"My Lord decrees it. You will move or the female will die!"
Daniel's hands flew up to ward off the attack on Sam.
"Okay. Okay! I get it," he cried, jumping up.
The weapon was removed and Sam glared, casting daggers at the Jaffa.
They were herded out into the corridor where they were led away, and after endless twists and turns they found themselves kneeling in front of Osiris.
"Daniel Jackson, Samantha Carter."
The Goa'uldsmiled cruelly, and stood up on her long legs, then walked round them, as if inspecting them.
She curled a finger under Daniel's chin, and pushed his head up to look into his eyes.
"You will not escape me this time Daniel," she whispered, trailing her long finger seductively down and around to the back of his neck where she played with his hair.
Daniel shuddered at the touch, unable to forget that it was something that Sarah loved to do and knew that it had always affected his libido. He quashed the feelings that it was Sarah and steeled himself against the wiles of Osiris using her memories. She was not going to get to him through his former love for the host.
Osiris must have sensed this and dropped her hand. She moved on to Sam.
Coming face to face with the Major, she smiled cruelly at the set hardness of Sam's features.
"It is such a pity that we couldn't get the rest of your colleagues out from under the ruins. My sensors detected no life signs. Your precious Colonel O'Neill and General Hammond therefore are dead.
Sam couldn't help the distressed gasp that escaped her throat at this news. She was hoping that at least the Colonel and Hammond had survived the fall, but her heart sank at the news.
"Anubis would have killed them anyway, just as you two will be eventually. He has methods of gaining all the knowledge from you. An extremely painful and messy method it may be, but very effective. You have much to look forward to at his hands. A slow and very excruciatingly painful death will follow... unless..." The Goa'uld paused for effect and took to her throne again, looking at her captives.
"Unless..." she continued, "...you tell me how to penetrate the Tau'ri shield that protects your 'Stargate' as you call it."
Sam glared up at her, her blue eyes spitting fire, but she remained silent.
"I could save your deaths at Anubis' hands," Osiris added, hoping to get through to their sense of preservation.
Neither Daniel nor Sam uttered a word, causing the Goa'uld to become angry, though she calmed herself, and turned once more to Daniel.
She stepped from the dais and walked slowly towards him; her long legs purposely showing beneath the chiffon garments.
She took hold of Daniel's hand and placed it on her bare thigh, making him rub it.
Daniel tried to snatch his hand away, determined not to be used in this way.
"It doesn't matter what you do," he ground out through gritted teeth, "I'm not telling you anything!"
Osiris' anger rose within her, suffocating her with frustration. She struck out in temper and Daniel was knocked off his knees, reeling from the hard blow to his cheek.
It took all of Sam's fortitude to stay where she was and not rush to help her friend. She couldn't allow Osiris the pleasure of knowing how close they were. She did thank god that perhaps it was better that the Colonel wasn't here, because she would not have been able to stop herself from helping him. She fought a lone tear at the thought of his death and hoped if she were to die, that they would be united in the afterlife, as they could never be in this one.
Osiris flung herself back onto her throne and flicked an impatient hand at her prisoners.
"Take them back to the cell. Deprive them of all food; perhaps their hunger will drive them to reconsider my offer."
The Jaffa bowed low and Daniel and Sam found themselves dragged from the room and hustled back to their cell.
Once they were alone, Daniel took hold of Sam's hands, looking into her pain filled eyes.
"Don't believe her Sam. Jack's alive. She's just saying that to get at us. Trust me Sam. I know he's still alive. I can feel it. She's lying!"
"I don't want to believe her Daniel, but..." she at last let the tears fall.
"Trust in him Sam. He's still alive!"
Daniel gathered her into his arms, and they took comfort from each other. Jack had to be alive and if they knew him as well as they thought; he would come for them.
TBC